Italy is set to witness the launch of a 540-megawatt (MW) hybrid floating solar–wind farm in the Ionian Sea as early as 2028.
Project proponents
According to the press release, the hybrid floating solar-wind farm development is under the partnership of the following three major companies:
- Dutch-Norwegian offshore solar giant SolarDuck
- Italian investment fund Arrow Capital
- Italian developer New Developments
The trio primarily seeks to establish a landmark “120MWp OFPV farm integrated with 420MW Floating Offshore Wind (FOW).”
“With the current momentum, we believe this is a unique opportunity for the offshore renewable energy industry to help shape a favorable regulatory framework and facilitate the scaling of OFPV. This is not just important for Italy, but also for other countries in the Mediterranean. Our collaboration with New Developments and Green Arrow Capital can also serve as a catalyst for OFPV in Italy.”
SolarDuck CEO Koen Burgers
About the Corigliano project
The “Corigliano project” will arise in the Gulf of Taranto off the Calabrian coast of Corigliano-Rossano.
SolarDuck will develop elevated solar platforms using offshore-grade aluminum. These platforms will sit 10 feet (3 meters) off the water, enabling them to withstand even rough water flows and lessen salt deposits accumulating on the solar panels.
In addition, the triangular floating platforms are apparently modular to support interconnection for building large plants. These cutting-edge platforms also feature slip-resistant walkways and fences, enabling easy access and maintenance.
Power generation capacity
The Corigliano project will reportedly have 420 MW of offshore wind and 120 MW of floating solar, for a combined total capacity of 540 MW. It will also include 28 floating wind turbines, but SolarDuck has yet to announce the developer.
The OFPV farm alone is expected to produce over 160 GWh of solar energy annually, as per the press release.
Excitingly, the trio expects the hybrid floating solar-wind farm to officially start operations in 2028.
SolarDuck is also reportedly initiating an up to 3-year 5 MW pilot with multinational energy giant RWE in the North Sea, 7.5 miles (12 km) from The Hague’s Dutch coast. It raised €15 million in funding in December 2023, enabling it to deploy Japan’s first-ever offshore floating wind farm.
